tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-256030242014-10-06T20:23:21.609-04:00Fiona's FarragoFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-63184657757859861222008-02-10T16:53:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:13:41.242-05:00Planned Parenthood<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R692gRhBBUI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/N0SpFN0f7BU/s1600-h/omsc.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R692gRhBBUI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/N0SpFN0f7BU/s320/omsc.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165477594447021378" border="0" /></a><br />Every Friday there is a man in the county where I live who gets out of bed, dresses himself, drives to the local Planned Parenthood building and protests for eight hours. He is Pro-Life. He is white. His signs vary from week to week. Sometimes they are a simple message of choosing life while at others they are an in-your-face condemnation of those who believe in abortion.<br /><br />For those of you who read my blog, you know my stance. I am pro-choice, pro-abortion, pro-sex education and a supporter/volunteer of Planned Parenthood. It amazes me that someone can feel so strong a conviction on this topic that they would give a day of their life each week in protest. A man, who will never be in the position of having to make that decision, could feel such overwhelming vehemence against how a woman chooses to deal with her body. In a way, I almost wish my conviction was that strong.<br /><br />On Friday, a friend called to tell me that this man, this man who once served as a member of our School Board, was once again standing on the side of State Road 60 with his narrow-minded and ignorant sign. Apparently on that day, he was demonstrating his conviction alone. A myriad of feelings raced through me as I hit 'end' on my cell. I wanted to scream. I was immediately angry. I wanted to put on my clothes and push through my hangover from hell and drive downtown and confront him. I wanted to stand in front of his stupid little sign and prevent his ignorance from infecting or hurting anyone else. I wanted to yell at him until he went away. I wanted to talk to him until he saw reason. I just wanted him to stop.<br /><br />I have considered myself a feminist for quite some time and have always been pro-choice. However, in the last seven years, after working with all of these low socio-economic students, I feel stronger about the existence of Planned Parenthood than ever before. I've seen these girls who have been molested, raped and seriously taken advantage of. I've seen the fear in their eyes, the feeling of total helplessness and loss of control. I've seen them struggle with the decision to have an abortion and more times than I would like to remember I've seen them struggle even harder with their choice to keep the baby. They are children themselves. Lost, confused and hurting. At fourteen they are required to make a decision that will live with them for the rest of their lives and more often than not, they choose to continue the cycle of poverty that they were born into.<br /><br />How could this person, this man, this white, rich, suburban southern baptist, have any right to criticize the choice these girls are making? How could he be so blind as to think he has any idea? This man may be pro-life, but he certainly isn't pro-child. The damage he did within our school system will remain for years to come. And these children that he feels should be born, has he taken a step to assist in their lives? He hasn't helped serve food at the homeless shelter. He hasn't been at the local youth activity center volunteering his free time to tutor and entertain these children while the women he say should keep the babies work minimum wage jobs that won't even put food on the table. He hasn't done anything to assist in the lives of those who actually choose life. And perhaps that is my biggest complaint with the fanatical pro-lifers. While they spend so much time insisting that everyone should have a right to live, they do nothing to help improve those lives. There is no community outreach. No help for the young mothers. Nothing to aide them after their decision has been made.*<br /><br />Perhaps it is just that I am so thoroughly ingrained in my beliefs that I can't see the other side. I like to think I can but on this one I'm stumped. Life is precious, but quality of life is equally so. Next Friday, this man will once again park his car and pull his picket sign out of the trunk and spend countless hours hurling accusations at women who enter the Planned Parenthood building. And I will get up and get dressed and go to school and try to teach those same girls that they need an education, they need to believe in themselves and they need to work hard in school in order to have a better life. I can't hold a giant white sheet up in front of this man and block his message, but I'll continue to be an example to my girls. To show them that strength in women should be applauded. That it is their life and their body and their right.<br /><br />If you too are an advocate of choice, you can <a href="http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/omsc_petition">Join the One Million Strong Campaign</a>. The One Million Strong Campaign is a Planned Parenthood Action Fund-sponsored effort, combining national, state, and local Action Funds to identify, energize, and mobilize one million pro-choice voters in the coming election. With your support, we will work to elect pro-choice candidates at every level, including a pro-choice president and Senate and House members; pass laws and policies that support women's health; defeat anti-choice ballot measures; and turn out one million pro-choice voters in November 2008!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*I am speaking from my own personal experience. I have looked for resources for my girls for several years now and there is nothing available from the local church and pro-life organization in my county.*<br /><br /></span>...Fiona...Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-13030284909152780522008-02-10T15:33:00.000-05:002008-02-10T16:07:05.401-05:00Sunday Musings...It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Florida. The temperature is about 72 degrees, the windows are open, there is an awesome breeze and I'm getting to sit here and cyber-surf. Gawd, I love days like this.<br /><br />I have lots of stuff floating around in my head, but I'm not sure any of it is really worth a full blog post. So, I think this will just be my completely random snippets.<br /><br />Politics<br /><br />Okay, so I'm totally a Hillary Fan. I voted for Hil in the primaries and I'm really hopeful that she will get the Democratic nomination. And thankfully, I'll be happy with Obama even if Hillary doesn't get the nomination. However, in my book, experience is key. I recently saw the kick ass video on YouTube for Obama by a collective group of public figures, and yes, while it is cool, I worry that he isn't mature enough or experienced enough to really carry off real change. And while Hillary may not be as radical as I would like, there is just no way I can't vote for a woman, especially one with her qualifications. So, in the words of my favorite tee, "Just vote for the bitch."<br /><br />Work<br /><br />I've really been slacking at work lately. Well, okay, not slacking (totally not me) but not the completely anal retentive version of me that I usually am. Why? Oh, I guess I've just realized that I need to chill out and have a life. No matter how much I do at work, there is always going to be more to do. Plus, I think it helps the kids that I'm not so 'on it' all the time. FCAT is coming up and the stress of that is about to begin. It isn't something I'm looking forward to, mainly because I know how difficult it is on the kids. Plus, it's really exhausting trying to make test prep fun and exciting for low achieving kids. <br /><br />Life<br /><br />Life, hmmmm, what can I say? LOL You know, the divorce was really hard for me, for a variety of reasons, and I just abhorred everyone who repeated the old cliche that 'there is a reason for everything'. No, seriously, it was like nails down a chalkboard for me. I didn't want to evaluate the past five years of my life and I certainly didn't want to think about the future, but man, time is the best kind of medicine. Now, looking back, they were right. There certainly is a reason for everything that happens. I've had to work really hard at not regretting my years of marriage with Linc and instead enjoying the memories and seeing how it shaped me into the person I am today. Now that I've completed the familial obligations of love and marriage, I really get to think about who I am and I what I want out of life. I've spent so many years trying to please my parents and make them happy, and while some of the things I did were really great for my life (softball, teaching), others weren't and it took this divorce to make me see that. So, I'm enjoying my friends, I'm doing some writing that I never would have attempted and I'm in a relationship that is just amazing. So yeah, life is good.<br /><br />Books<br /><br />I haven't been reading much romance lately. Why? I don't know. Perhaps I'm just not out of my cynical stage yet or maybe its something more. I've been reading a lot more non fiction than fiction these days. I reread the series by Dave Pelzer (A Child Called It, Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave). A Child Called It is definitely a thought provoking book. I also read Family Outing by Chasity Bono which I wasn't expecting to be very good but I was pleasantly surprised. It's mostly a collection of other's stories and she had help writing the book, so all in all it was good. And of course, I'm reading tons for school. I'm currently on Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne. Its an ARC I got from a friend. And I have Beastly by Alex Flinn in my TBR. Beastly is a teen ARC I got in Toronto and never got around to reading. I've had three girls read it and they have just raved and raved, so I'm going to see what all the fuss is about.<br /><br />Off Topic<br /><br />I have a ton of artists I want to download on my iTunes. Flo Rida being the main one. I try and try to expand my musical pallate, and as much as I like other artists, I always gravitate back to hard rap and hip hop. What is that? Why on earth is a little country girl so drawn to that kind of music. Must be something with my subconscious. You think?<br /><br />To do<br /><br />Oh goodness, do I want to even begin to tackle the to do list? Hmmm, lets see.<br />1. Buy new clothes<br />2. Wash my sneakers (like ten pair!)<br />3. File papers<br />4. Take books to book store<br />5. Put away my Christmas decorations ( I KNOW!!)<br />6. Call Grandma and wish her Happy Birthday (87!)<br />7. Call my Aunt Janice because I haven't done that in like two months!<br />8. Send Emma and Alexa a post card.<br />9. Go over and visit with my friend Q since she isn't working.<br />10. Clean my house (um, maybe I'll skip this one?)<br />11. Organize my scrapbooking stuff. (I haven't done this since BEFORE I moved!)<br />12. Okay, I'm going to stop before I get overwhelmed!<br /><br />...Fiona...Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-86172160100402671902008-01-30T14:50:00.001-05:002008-01-30T14:50:17.047-05:00Let's try this...<div>Okay, I can't post at school, which is why I haven't been putting posts up.&nbsp; So, I'm trying the new e-mail in your post option.&nbsp; Will be interesting to see if this works.&nbsp; Holly, I know you've done this before, right?&nbsp; If any of you have tips, I'd love to have them.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>PS: This counts as my post for the day!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>...Fiona...</div><p>&#32; <hr size=1>Never miss a thing. <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs"> Make Yahoo your homepage.</a> Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-15179976950214949232008-01-30T06:32:00.000-05:002008-01-30T06:34:26.577-05:00What?!?My last post was January 8th? Crud, bad blogger. Bad, bad blogger. OKay, so I'm never home to write! Sheesh. Gimme a break!<br /><br />Posting today...promise.<br /><br />Maybe.<br /><br />I'll try!<br /><br />No really, I will TRY!<br /><br />What? I will!<br /><br />...FiFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-72686957713184073312008-01-08T17:15:00.000-05:002008-01-08T17:20:23.036-05:00Hey Baby, What's Your Sign?Libra in a Nutshell<br /><br />Born: September 23 – October 22<br /><br />Element: Air – communicative and logical<br /><br />Quality: Cardinal, the quality that signifies change and movement<br /><br />Symbol: The Scales<br /><br />Lucky Day: Friday<br /><br />Lucky Number: 6 and 9<br /><br />Special Color: Blue and <a class="iAs" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; COLOR: darkgreen; BORDER-BOTTOM: darkgreen 0.07em solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_living/Life_Tips/your_zodiac_sign_the_laid-back_libra.asp?page=2&amp;trans=1#" target="_blank" itxtdid="5149672">lavender</a>, the colors of harmony and refinement<br /><br />Libra Traits: Charming, indecisive, diplomatic, easy-going, vulnerable, idealistic<br /><br />Nobody will ever accuse a Libra of not being fair. With the Libra symbol of the Scales on your side, you are a seeker of balance, justice and order.You are objective, always able to see both sides of every story, and you are good at handling a crisis. You avoid conflict at all costs, which is why you try to be so peaceful.Striking a harmonic balance in all areas of your life is a continuous <a class="iAs" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 100%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; COLOR: darkgreen; BORDER-BOTTOM: darkgreen 0.07em solid; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="http://www.lifescript.com/channels/healthy_living/Life_Tips/your_zodiac_sign_the_laid-back_libra.asp?page=2&amp;trans=1#" target="_blank" itxtdid="5205307">goal</a> of yours. But don’t think just yet that every Libra should enroll in law school to become a judge, because your ever-present indecisiveness would get in the way of making rulings.<br /><br />Relationships<br />Partnerships with friends and lovers bring out the best in you. You are emotionally driven in all of your relationships and possess the gift of understanding others’ feelings and needs.Part of your charm is having a knack for making other people feel important. It’s a good thing you are so socially inclined since you despise being alone.One relationship technique native to the Libra sign is giving in during an argument just for the sake of not ruffling any feathers, even when you know you’re right. This is where the diplomatic side of you comes in.Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-20849819647753485932008-01-08T17:06:00.001-05:002008-01-08T17:06:39.376-05:00It's Tuesday!Um...I got nothing<br /><br />...Fiona...Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-88866332453328504522008-01-06T18:05:00.000-05:002008-01-06T19:08:01.658-05:00B is for Books...<p class="MsoNormal" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">B is for Books</p><p class="MsoNormal">Books!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>God I love books.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Love, love, love!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The first book that I remember was the Very Hungry Caterpillar.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I loved that thing!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I had the kind with the really thick pressed pages so I could read it again and again and it never wore out.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I’ve always been a good (and fast) reader.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I started reading the classics in middle school, along with teen horror king Christopher Pike.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Pike wrote about sex, which was water-to-a-dying-man for a thirteen year old.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I actually think it was that aspect in his books that ultimately led me to love the romance genre.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But gosh, I have so many memories about books; I wouldn’t even know what story to tell!</p><p class="ListParagraph" style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in">My Top 4 most memorable books (like the kind that I can still remember the covers in my head!<br /></p><p class="ListParagraph" style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in">Th The Hungry Caterpillar<br />Final Friends by Christopher Pike<br />Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card<br />Perfect by Judith McNaught</p><p class="MsoNormal">You know what you have to do...<span class="fullpost">Okay, so I’m going to tell the embarrassing 8<sup>th</sup> grade yearbook story.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Whenever this memory pops up in my head I take a second to go back to 1994 and then I cringe in utter embarrassment.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Even now, all these years later, I am so.fucking.embarrassed!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I did the absolute stupidest shit in school.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>How I made it through, I’ll never know.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In 8<sup>th</sup> grade I was head over heels in love with Russ.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We had dated off and on since 6<sup>th</sup> grade.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We were even one of the first couples to *gasp* French-kiss in 7<sup>th</sup> grade (quite the big deal back then).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Then, in 8<sup>th</sup> grade, Russ decides he likes Heather better and drops me harder than a 400 pound man out of an airplane.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I was crushed. <span style="font-size:0;"></span>Devastated.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Heart-broken.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Life could not…would not go on.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But I was thirteen and as most young, hormone raging adolescents do, I quickly recovered.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Tony liked me!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Tony, who was tall, dark, and han…no ladies and gentleman, Tony was not handsome.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He was tall and dark, but his head was too big for his neck, his nose was too big for his face and he looked like a pepperoni pizza on steroids.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Oh, what was I thinking?!?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Tony’s mother was also a teacher so we began spending our afternoons together, he asked me out, we held hands at lunch, and life was grand.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>At the end of the year Tony asked me to go to the 8<sup>th</sup> grade dance with him *sigh* and I said yes.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I had the biggest poufy hair at the dance, I wore a purple dress and he had a tie to match and we slow danced the night away.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Pure bliss.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The next Monday at school we finally got our long awaited yearbooks.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I can still remember it like it was yesterday.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Tony sat in front of me in Mrs. Jacob’s home ec class.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>During second period he turned around and handed me his yearbook.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Since I was Tony’s girl, I got to sign his yearbook first (insert little girl squeal here).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I was at the height of my Christopher Pike obsession at this point and had just finished reading Final Friends 3: The Graduation.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>In this book, the main characters are graduating from high school and the first two chapters are small inscriptions that they are making in each other’s yearbooks.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>One character, Bubba, is the rudest and crudest of them all (and duh, my favorite!).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Well, as you can imagine, Bubba writes a particularly ‘racy’ message in Sara’s yearbook.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>When I read it a week earlier I just knew that was what I had to write in Tony’s yearbook when he gave it to me!<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>He would see that I was a woman who was sexy and smart and knew what she wanted.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>What the hell was I thinking???<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>And why, why oh why, did it not dawn on me in the ensuing seven days that this would be an utter mistake?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>But alas, I was thirteen, the hormones were raging, and I, apparently, had no brain.</p><p class="MsoNormal">My inscription in Tony’s yearbook (verbatim from the book):</p><p class="MsoNormal">My Dearest Tony,</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>My heart patters at the thought of us making love tonight above the deep ocean swells, our bodies locked in passion, the salty sweat on the burning flesh of our entangled limbs mingling like oil and wine, ready to burst into flaming ecstasy.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>My head swoons.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Tonight, Tony, I promise you, will be our night.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The gods will envy our joy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>But we mustn’t be foolish.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We mustn’t forget, in our carnal hunger for each other, certain responsibilities.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>You would rather float on love-intoxicated perfumed clouds, I realize, ignoring the practical demands the world places upon us, only fantasizing about the pleasure I will send throbbing through your body.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Yet we have to be careful.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We can have our cake and eat it, too, but only if we don’t let the ice cream melt.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>We have to get some condoms.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:0;"></span>As you have probably guessed, anything that will heighten our delight is fine with me.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I prefer the natural to the artificial, the tight to the loose, blue to red.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Keep this in mind when you visit the pharmacy, Tony, and you will be thanked a thousand times over when the time comes.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Love You Always,</p><p class="MsoNormal">In So Many Different Positions,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fiona</p><p class="MsoNormal">I imagine at this point your mouth is hanging open in shock, you aren’t reading this because you are rolling on the ground laughing, or you can totally feel my absolute mortification.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>I told you it was bad.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>There was a reason I haven’t ever rewritten this passage.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember when I said Tony gave me his yearbook in 2<sup>nd</sup> period?<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Yes, that means that everyone who signed it the rest of the day read what I had written.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>It never crossed my mind that other people would read it or that Tony would be completely embarrassed by the passage also.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>By lunch everyone knew about it and Tony had to hide his yearbook in his locker while we both prayed the story didn’t get to our mothers.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I don’t know how Scarlett the guidance counselor, who knew everything I did in school, never found out.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Or maybe she did but couldn’t muster the nerve to face me about it.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>That night I came up with a solution: we would glue a page over the top of it (I had written it on the back cover).<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>The next day I came to school armed with a piece of construction paper and super glue.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Between the permanent marker and all the glue I used, I am confident those words were never read again.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>My relationship with Tony ended shortly after that.<span style="font-size:0;"> </span>Apparently, I was too much woman for him to handle.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Life Lesson: “Don’t put it in writing unless you’d be willing to have the world read it.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fiona</span></p>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-81178484046116154202008-01-04T09:34:00.000-05:002008-01-04T09:35:53.344-05:00TGIFIt's fRiDaY!<br /><br />My friends are back in town, I had a great time line dancing and it's the last weekend before school starts back.<br /><br />Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!<br /><br />...Fiona...<br /><br />(and Florida's finally beginning to feel like the damn sunshine state again!)Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-25231375339517590862008-01-03T08:02:00.000-05:002008-01-03T08:09:28.405-05:00A is for AmberThis is the first installment of my alphabiography.<br /><br />If wondering what the hell I'm talking about, then you missed <a href="http://fionasfarrago.blogspot.com/2008/01/totally-joe.html">this post.</a> Read it first.<br /><br /><p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:180%;">A is for Amber</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to begin my alphabiography then to talk about my students.<span style=""> </span>I love teaching, I love being a teacher and as much as it drives me completely crazy, I wouldn’t want to do anything else (quite yet).<span style=""> </span>Amber and Dana are Irish twins (9 months apart) and probably two students that I will never forget.<span style=""> </span>You run in to kids around town: at Wal-Mart, taking your money at MacDonald’s, passing in the mall, and when you do you rack your brain furiously trying to remember their name.<span style=""> </span>Usually I can remember where they sat or how awful their parents were or who their best friend was but names completely elude me.<span style=""> </span>So I say “hi” with a lot of enthusiasm and ask how school is going, hoping all the while they don’t ask me if I remember who they are (note to former students: don’t put your teacher on the spot like that!<span style=""> </span>We teach 130 of you a year, I couldn’t possibly remember all of your names!).<span style=""> </span>But Amber is one of those students that I will never forget.<span style=""> </span>I think of her when having a difficult day and she’s one of those that will just flit across my mind from time to time.</p><p class="MsoNormal">More below the cut <span class="fullpost"><span class="fullpost"><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Amber is one of five children.<span style=""> </span>Her parents are really great people but were not blessed with a lot of intelligence.<span style=""> </span>They do the best they can and truly love their children, but providing adequately for them has always been a struggle.<span style=""> </span>Amber was in a particularly difficult reading class and I really had to come across as the authority figure.<span style=""> </span>I think I might have scared her a little, actually (hehe).<span style=""> </span>On the third or fourth day of school we were doing an assignment and Amber just couldn’t get it.<span style=""> </span>The idea was completely eluding her, so I had her stay with me through lunch; we shared my ham and turkey sandwich and finished the worksheet with time to spare.<span style=""> </span>While sitting there munching on chips and sipping Capri Sun, Amber began to tell me her story.<span style=""> </span>She told me about her mom and her dad, her four sisters, what subjects she liked in school and which ones were very difficult for her.<span style=""> </span>I listened, she talked and by the end of our lunch period a bond had already been created.<span style=""> </span>Amber hugged me and said thanks for listening and ran out the door to her 5<sup>th</sup> period.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next day, after class, Amber put a brown paper sack on her desk and pulled out her own sandwich.<span style=""> </span>Our daily lunches together had begun.<span style=""> </span>It was my first year at a new school, I hadn’t made any friends, I didn’t know anyone, so I figured, why not?<span style=""> </span>Amber and I would talk about everything, from books we were reading to favorite tv shows.<span style=""> </span>She would talk to me about the struggles they were having at home, teachers she was having a problem with and some days we even worked on homework.<span style=""> </span>I have to admit though; my lunches with Amber were purely selfish.<span style=""> </span>Never had I felt like I was making such a difference in the life of a child then I did for those 30 minutes every day with her.<span style=""> </span>Some days Dana, Amber’s sister, would eat lunch with us, or other friends she invited would come by, especially if we were going to be talking about a book they had recently read.<span style=""> </span>But for the most part, it was just Amber and I.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A week before Christmas, Amber’s family was evicted from their home.<span style=""> </span>I still tear up when I remember her sitting in my room crying, telling me that her family of seven would be living out of their van.<span style=""> </span>She wasn’t even upset for herself, she was sad because her dad felt like he had failed them.<span style=""> </span>I did what I could, especially about getting them help for Christmas and luckily within a month they were back in government housing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Amber’s a senior in high school now.<span style=""> </span>She’s struggled with school but will be graduating in May.<span style=""> </span>She calls me, not as often as she used to but at least once a month, to tell me how she’s doing or ask my advice about a boy (god help us!) or get help with a homework assignment.<span style=""> </span>I have her younger sister this year and she is the spitting image of Amber and just as sweet and lovable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">There are a lot of people out there who do this job that shouldn’t.<span style=""> </span>Teachers who come to school for the paycheck and the summer vacations.<span style=""> </span>There are also those of us out there who work and work and work and are never appreciated.<span style=""> </span>I truly consider myself one of the lucky ones.<span style=""> </span>I love my job and I think, on most days, the kids love me back.<span style=""> </span>I’m fortunate to have had a student that made such an impact on me.<span style=""> </span>There are lots of teachers out there who can’t say that or don’t have that memory.<span style=""> </span>Amber, thanks for splitting a sandwich with me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Life Lesson: “Slow down and eat lunch.<span style=""> </span>It might just be the meal that changes your life.”</p>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-75225457253380399432008-01-02T17:28:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:13:42.312-05:00Totally JoeBook Review: Totally Joe<br /><br /><span>Occasionally I’ve reviewed a book here that I have read/used for school. I’ve been sitting on Totally Joe for a while (and for a reason).</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3wQxVbGfRI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/a87XRU5eohs/s1600-h/totally+joe.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3wQxVbGfRI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/a87XRU5eohs/s400/totally+joe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151010513555455250" border="0" /></a><span> </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Totally Joe is the story of Joe Bunch, lovable misfit and celebrity wannabe from Paintbrush Falls, New York. Like his longtime best friends Addie, Skeezie, and Bobby, Joe's been called names all his life. So when he's given the assignment to write his alphabiography -- the story of his life from A to Z -- Joe has his doubts. This whole thing could be serious ammunition for bullying if it falls into the wrong hands. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />But Joe discovers there's more to the assignment -- and his life -- than meets the eye. Especially when he gets to the letter C, which stands for Colin Briggs, the coolest guy in the seventh grade (seriously) -- and Joe's secret boyfriend. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />By the time Joe gets to the letter Z, he's pretty much bared his soul about everything. And Joe's okay with that because he likes who he is. He's Totally Joe, and that's the best thing for him to be. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Here is an exuberant, funny, totally original story of one boy's coming out -- and coming-of-age.<br /><br /></span><span>More below the cut <span class="fullpost"><span><span><span class="fullpost"><br /><br /></span></span> Totally Joe is a great book for kids, especially ones dealing with being different and not fitting in, but reading this one as an adult was, well, amazing. Howe has one of the best voices I have ever read on paper. Almost every line is funny (hard to do and not force it) and his ability to recreate situations and deliver dialogue is stunning. I read TJ in one day and couldn’t stop laughing and the book hasn’t stayed on the shelf since. My kids love it and I highly recommend it. Even if you’re a grown up, even if you’re straight, Totally Joe is more than just a great read, it’s an experience.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?p=0&amp;is=38">Interview with James Howe</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So, why have I been sitting on the review for so long? Well, because I want to do my own alphabiography, of course! Let’s call it a New Year’s Challenge! Every week, I plan (hope) to post a new letter of the alphabet. In six months, my very own alphabiography should be complete! </span><br /><br />Buy Totally Joe <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Totally-Joe-James-Howe/dp/0689839588/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1199305291&amp;sr=8-1">here!</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Excerpt:<br />Joe Bunch, The Early Years:<br /><br />"My mom says that I played wedding for about a year and that I kept asking everybody if they would marry me. Even Jeff. (That was the only time anyone can remember Jeff threatening to clobber me on a regular basis.) I had my Lainy doll marry my Ken doll. I also had her marry some of my Barbies. And G.I. Joe. (I hated that the soldier doll had my name. I mean, please. I didn't play with him much. He was another Christmas present from my clueless grandparents. One time when they were visiting, my grandpa asked me if G.I. Joe had been in any wars lately. I said, 'No, but he and Ken got married last week.' Every Christmas since then, my grandparents have sent me a check.)”<br /></span></div></span></span>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-85520211768304832092008-01-02T10:43:00.001-05:002008-12-12T20:13:42.695-05:00Resolutions...Okay, I don't really have any serious NY resolutions set. Typical stuff, but I saw this on <a href="http://www.julieree.blogspot.com/">Julieree's blog</a> and had to steal. It pretty much sums it up for me:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3uxxVbGfQI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mfqotluHD1s/s1600-h/note_to_self_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3uxxVbGfQI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mfqotluHD1s/s400/note_to_self_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150906059950816514" border="0" /></a>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-12677131441775266952008-01-02T09:01:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:13:43.032-05:00Hump Day! (and I'm home!)Hello Cyber World, I'm back from the farm and never been happier about it!<br /><br />I spent 8 glorious days with Scarlett and Jimmy (with a small break in the middle) and you know the one nice thing about going home? It makes me more thankful for having gotten an education and the hell out of Dodge!!! *haha*<br /><br />My dad just had back surgery so I had to help out a little more than usual. Typical farm stuff...put out hay, patch fence, count cows, feed bulls, blah, blah, blah. Nothing real exciting. Scarlett and I got along really well and we took Grandma to go see Cats in Tampa for New Year's Eve! It.Was.Awesome!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3ubOVbGfOI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Od-MzH4fM1A/s1600-h/Cats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3ubOVbGfOI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Od-MzH4fM1A/s200/Cats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150881269399583970" border="0" /></a><br />I ended up going down to the 'hunting camp' when we got back to the show and saw a lot of old friends. We ran the dogs, caught a deer and drank a lot of beer! LOL You know the saying, "same shit, different day"? Yes, well...it's true. Give a bunch of guys a wooden shack and too much beer and you get the same thing every time...how dumb can we get? This is the conversation (and scene) I walked in on:<span class="fullpost"><br /><br />Doug: You go first<br />Dale: I'm not going first. You're the one that thought of it...you go first!<br />Doug: But you won't do it if I go first.<br />Dale: You calling me a liar?<br />(oh, here we go...)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3ufM1bGfPI/AAAAAAAAAJA/-5tJFKyC-Zs/s1600-h/porkhocks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/R3ufM1bGfPI/AAAAAAAAAJA/-5tJFKyC-Zs/s200/porkhocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150885641676291314" border="0" /></a><br />Doug: No, I'm calling you a pansy ass because you won't do it.<br />(at this point there is a loud guffaw from the 15+ people egging these two idiots on)<br />Dale: Fine, put your money down.<br />(20's are set on the table)<br />Doug: Ready?<br />(head nod from Dale)<br />Doug: On the count of three....1, 2, 3<br />(and at this point, Dale downs an entire glass of pickled hog's feet juice.)<br /><br />No, Doug didn't drink it. He wasn't that stupid! Laughing and puking (on Dale's part) ensued.<br /><br />Ah...home.<br /><br />Fiona</span>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-1813729159973311332007-12-30T11:38:00.000-05:002007-12-30T11:45:13.903-05:00Oldies but Goodies...I put some new posts up on the sidebars. During my search I ran into some old but fun posts. Thought I might re-share one or two.<br /><br />Retro Monday...<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/pound%20puppy.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/pound%20puppy.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Everywhere I looked this weekend, the 80s were coming up in the conversation. So, thought you might enjoy this!<br /><br /><strong>You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's If:</strong><br /><br />1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Of course!<br /></span><br />2. You watched the Pound Puppies. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I got one for my birthday! Gray with a brown spots on the butt.<br /></span><br />3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Belair and can do the Carlton. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">It was Philadelphia born an’ raised, on a playground is where I spent most of my days…shall I continue?<br /></span><span class="fullpost"><br />4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Mine were neon green and pink.<br /></span><br />5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yes to both.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/StrawberryandbushelbasketPVC.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/StrawberryandbushelbasketPVC.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yes, almost all of them. I collected them from flea markets for a while. I still have them and have considered selling them on eBay but Mom says that would be sacrilege.<br /></span><br />7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">He was such a hottie, but I liked the older brother, Anthony, better. (see #23 for explanation)<br /></span><br />8. Two words: Hammer Pants. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Not only did I have an orange and blue pair…my mother had a pair!<br /></span><br />9. If you ever watched Fraggle Rock. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">We didn’t get HBO…just one of those big ass satellites that didn’t get anything but sports and news.<br /></span><br />10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Not really sure playing cards classifies as 80s, but I had the neon spokey-dokes.<br /></span><br />11. You can sing the entire theme song to DuckTales. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Not only do I know Duck Tales, but I also know Tiny Toons, which followed.<br /></span><br />12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Can we say Zack (Saved by the Bell)?<br /></span><br />13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Of course.</span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/turtles.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/turtles.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen...and still know the turtles names. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Do you mean the quartet of humanoid turtles trained by their mentor in ninjitsu who must learn to pull together in order to face the menace of Shredder and the Foot Clan?<br /><br /></span>15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I bought this at Wal-Mart several months ago in the bargain bin! LOVED this game!<br /></span><br />16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">We got them at the flea market, decorated with puffy paint and rhinestones.<br /><br /></span>17. You played the game MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House) <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Still do.</span><br /><br />18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.<span style="color:#cc33cc;"> Yup.</span><br /><br />19. L.A. Gear....need I say more? <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I got a black denim LA Gear jacket with the LA Gear logo sequined on the back. I kept that bad boy for years…LOVED it! It went well with my white and pink LA Gear hi-tops.<br /></span><br />20. You wanted to change your name to JEM in Kindergarten.(She's truly outrageous). <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Don’t know this one.<br /></span><br />21. You remember reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and all the Ramona books. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Every one of them, I think.<br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/waxon.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/waxon.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />22. You know the profound meaning of WAX ON, WAX OFF. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Profound? I know I said it this weekend!<br /></span><br />23. You wanted to be a Goonie. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Oh yes, this began my love affair with the ‘nerds’ of movies. First it was the younger, asthmatic</span> <span style="color:#cc33cc;">brother of Goonies and then it was on to Goose from Top Gun.<br /></span><br />24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Everything! But what I remember most was this hair barrette that was made out of neon green and pink shoelaces (went with the bicycle shorts ya know)!<br /></span><br />25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yup. God, the glove, the jacket…</span><br /><br />26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female Smurf. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">That is a good <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/gpkcard.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/gpkcard.jpg" border="0" /></a>question...<br /></span><br />27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Garbage Pail Kids were awesome!<br /></span><br />28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.<br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Oh yes.</span><br /><br />29. You still get the urge to say NOT after every sentence.<span style="color:#cc33cc;"> *hangs head* I still do this sometimes.<br /></span><br />30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Had a pink one that turned purple.</span><br /><br />31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Nope.<br /></span><br />32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Weren’t they?<br /></span><br />33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Of course.</span><br /><br />34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (and like #24, probably in neon colors, too). <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Purple.<br /></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/Pee_Wee_herman-2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/Pee_Wee_herman-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying, "I know you are, but what am I?" <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Who didn't?<br /></span><br />36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up". <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Did you know Donatello says this in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III?</span><br /><br />37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Thursday nights. After a while, I got to work behind the counter and pass out skates. This I did for free mind you, because it meant I was cool. What a sucker.</span><br /><br />38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Scar is on my right arm.</span><br /><br />39. You have ever played with a Skip-It. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Easter: Skip-It Skip off=Champion.</span><br /><br />40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Two years in a row.</span><br /><br />41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">And my neck hurts from doing that.<br /></span><br />42. You remember Popples. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Um, no.</span><br /><br />43. Don't worry, be happy. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I remember that!<br /></span><br />44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">3 pairs and the hi-tops were LA Gear.<br /></span><br />45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do... getting yelled at by younger hip members of the family). <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yes.<br /></span><br />46. You remember boom boxes. . and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Remember them, didn’t have one though.</span><br /><br />47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I still won’t sleep without a night light. My mom got me all the books and records that were given out with kid meals from…Hardees?</span><br /><br />48. You know what it meant to say Care Bear Stare!! <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yes I do! My cousin, Mandy, and I would do this when her little brother would throw a fit.<br /></span><br />49. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and My Little Pony. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Oh yes…I had the doll too.</span><br /><br />50. You thought Doogie Howser was hot. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Absolutely…didn’t I talk about nerds already?<br /></span><br />51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yup.</span><br /><br />52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as NKOTB.<span style="color:#cc33cc;"> I had every cassette tape, every poster. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/saved.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/saved.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><br />53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on Saved By The Bell The ORIGINAL class. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Zack, Screech, Lisa, Kelly, AC Slater and Jessie. And I did that without pausing!<br /></span><br />54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART. <span style="color:#cc66cc;"><em>Shot through the heart and your to blame baby you give love...a bad name!</em><br /></span><br />55. You just sang those words to yourself. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Absolutely!<br /></span><br />56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Yes…satellite, remember?</span><br /><br />57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better). <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Oh god, the memories!<br /></span><br />58. You remember when mullets were cool! <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Oh yes.<br /></span><br />59. You had a mullet! <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Um...no!<br /></span><br />60. You still sing "We are the World". <span style="color:#cc33cc;">I love that song...we are the children....</span><br /><br />61. You tight rolled your jeans. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">How can I forget that? I was a pro!</span><br /><br />62. You owned a banana clip.<span style="color:#cc33cc;"> Quite a few!<br /></span><br />63. You remember Where's the Beef? <span style="color:#cc33cc;">That was funny. Had the t-shirt.</span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/1600/willis.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8036/2677/320/willis.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />64. You used to (and probably still do) say What you talkin' about Willis? <span style="color:#cc33cc;">No.</span><br /><br />65. You had big hair and you knew how to use it. <span style="color:#cc33cc;">The taller the bangs, the better.</span><br /><br />66. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!!! <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Busted.<br /></span><br />67. Did you enjoy your little trip down memory lane? <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Very much so.</span><br /><br />...Fiona...</span>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-72208754201207842672007-12-28T12:25:00.000-05:002007-12-28T12:29:34.936-05:00Name that song...I have a stupid song stuck in my head. I don't know the artist, I don't know the lyrics...<br /><br />The chorus goes:<br /><br />Da da dada<br />da da dada<br /><br />Don't ya just hate that???Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-77523831332009479102007-12-28T10:03:00.000-05:002007-12-28T10:17:25.163-05:00Oh My Aching HeadCaptain was my friend. Now Captain is my hangover.<br /><br />Its the start of a new year and in the spirit of 'bucket' lists, here's one of mine.<br /><br />Things to do to reclaim my life:<br /><br />1. Drink until it hurts (check)<br /><br />2. Dance again (check)<br /><br />3. Make some great friends (double check)<br /><br />4. Drive a car I like (will have to wait a while...)<br /><br />5. Sky Dive (um....not enough drinking for that yet)<br /><br />6. Bungee Jump (why do I do this to myself?)<br /><br />7. Travel alone (thinking Seattle for Spring Break maybe?)<br /><br />8. Read all day without feeling guilty (Woo Hoo!) (check)<br /><br />9. Be a slob (half check, working on this one)<br /><br />10. Rekindle an old friendship (haven't decided who yet)<br /><br />11. Forgive someone (hmmm....who needs forgiveness?)<br /><br />12. Get my name back!<br /><br />13. Go to a Cowboys game.<br /><br />14. Join a softball team.<br /><br />15. Live without guilt, regret or fear!<br /><br /><br />...FiFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-29177307639023949982007-12-27T15:01:00.000-05:002007-12-27T15:03:56.572-05:00What's New With Me...So, let me catch you guys up:<br /><br />1. Linc and I divorced. Yeah, shocker I know. He decided to leave. It was hard, but I dealt with it. Am moving on...<br /><br />2. I moved. Couldn't afford the beach on a teacher's income. Bye, bye waves. (no worries...I bought a cd of the ocean!)<br /><br />3. I now have a great little apartment in Vero. It's the perfect size for me.<br /><br />4. I'm still teaching and loving it.<br /><br />5. I'm applying to grad school. Wish me luck!Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-51704570566133203952007-12-27T14:55:00.000-05:002007-12-27T15:00:15.038-05:00Hello All!Hey Guys,<br /><br />Hope this finds everyone well! I'm sure you're tired of my saying I'm back and then not posting anything, so I won't.<br /><br />My students found my myspace so I had to change it. Here's the new one. Come be my friend!!<br /><br /> <span class="LinkText"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/reloc.cfm?c=2&amp;id=9ee6c313-2a7c-4534-b119-75cd3dd923bd">My Space Link</a><br /><br />Fiona<br /><br />PS: myspace is under my 'real' name. LOL<br /></span>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-54434433646224103982007-08-01T15:42:00.000-04:002007-08-01T15:44:59.165-04:00It's back!My goodness, I can't believe how many people are still coming by the Farrago even though I haven't been posting! Must be all those great links! hehe<br /><br />Anyway, here it is, returned to the general public, of course, no different. I had planned to do some revamping and start up the blogging again. The revamping didn't happen but hopefully the blogging will.<br /><br />Till later,<br />FionaFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-70887360989159728642007-02-26T06:14:00.000-05:002007-02-26T06:15:34.213-05:00Black MondayOh, it is totally black Monday in Florida!<br /><br />FCAT today.<br /><br />The last seven months of sweat, blood, tears and time is wrapped up into 160 short minutes.<br /><br />Wish us all luck.<br /><br />FionaFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-34430789363222525342007-02-25T14:57:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:13:45.020-05:00Reading anything?Okay, so my posts haven't been book related. *sigh*<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/ReHtTnUlsvI/AAAAAAAAAG8/o9JlGvgaqtk/s1600-h/Hearts_Aflame_Johanna_Lindsey__5107448.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/ReHtTnUlsvI/AAAAAAAAAG8/o9JlGvgaqtk/s200/Hearts_Aflame_Johanna_Lindsey__5107448.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035566779605562098" border="0" /></a><br />I'm reading...I AM! I just haven't felt like talking about it. After finishing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-2373307-8076416?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Highland+Lord+Series+Karen+Ranney&amp;amp;amp;Go.x=0&Go.y=0&amp;Go=Go">Karen Ranney's Highland Lord series</a>, I fell in to a funk. They were just so good I guess I had my fix. I reread Johanna Lindsey's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Aflame-Johanna-Lindsey/dp/0380899825/sr=1-1/qid=1172434011/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1008858-4635100?ie=UTF8&s=books">Hearts Aflame</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surrender-My-Love-Johanna-Lindsey/dp/0380762560/sr=1-3/qid=1172434011/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-1008858-4635100?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books">Surrender My Love</a> last Sunday. I love me some Lindsey (in case you didn't know).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/ReHtYnUlswI/AAAAAAAAAHE/i-FWw1S1PgE/s1600-h/mary+mag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/ReHtYnUlswI/AAAAAAAAAHE/i-FWw1S1PgE/s200/mary+mag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035566865504908034" border="0" /></a>Linc and I watched the Da Vinci Code (again) on Monday. The movie launched me into a reading of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Da-Vinci-Code-Dan-Brown/dp/1400079179/sr=8-1/qid=1172433773/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1008858-4635100?ie=UTF8&s=books">the book.</a> The book launched me into reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magdalene-Bride-Exile-Margaret-Starbird/dp/1591430542/sr=1-1/qid=1172433816/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1008858-4635100?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books">Mary Magdalene, Bride in Exile</a> by Margaret Starbird. Which then spurred on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Mary-Magdalene-Jean-Yves-Leloup/dp/0892819111/sr=1-4/qid=1172433906/ref=sr_1_4/104-1008858-4635100?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books">The Gospel of Mary Magdalene.</a> Which is where I'm at today.<br /><br />However, now I have an itch for another historical. I'm looking for a book about a guy (Scottish probably) who takes a woman hostage. They are traveling (to war, I think). She can sew and is assigned to his tent. I know at one point she cuts up all his clothes. It's very 80's physical. Probably written by Lindsey. If the title jumps out at ya, give me a holler, otherwise you can find me waist deep in books this afternoon.<br /><br />FionaFickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-31212318732295918332007-02-25T11:14:00.000-05:002007-02-25T11:16:32.039-05:00I'm not as bad as Sybil<div style="text-align: center;"><h1 class="article_title">What Curse Word Are You?</h1> <p> Why the fuck you'd want to know what your curse word is in the first place is just jacked up shit, but what can I say? </p><a href="http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/testgen/1243/"><img src="http://stat.rumandmonkey.com/tests/3/4/1243/4082.gif" title="I'm &quot;Damn!!&quot;" alt="I'm &quot;Damn!!&quot;" border="0" /></a><br />I'm &quot;Damn!!&quot;<br /><a href="http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/testgen/1243/">Take What Curse Word Are You? today!</a><br /><small>Created with <a href="http://rumandmonkey.com/">Rum and Monkey</a>'s <a href="http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/testgen/">Personality Test Generator</a>.</small></p><div>Ah yes, the perfect combination between the bad-ass and the smart-ass. You know just how to use a curse word so you don't sound so tough, but at the same time not like such a pansyass you can't even say the damn word. Kudos to you.</div></div>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-65693694824334484692007-02-20T08:54:00.000-05:002007-02-20T12:38:25.269-05:00What are these kids learning?The server at our district office crashed Thursday, which meant we spent all of Friday in the dark ages! Without data, we had no way to: take attendance, input/look at grades, make phone calls (we have IT phones), access our lesson plans, find students, nothing, nada, zip, zero, zilch.<br /><br />It was fun.<br /><br />Luckily, because the FCAT is coming soon, I had already started making some critical thinking but "fun" worksheets for the kids. So we did those while I sent text messages to the school secretary.<br /><br />The first worksheet I had my kids do was Famous First Names of Men. Because it's Black History Month, let me point out a few of the obvious they didn't know (these are directly from the worksheet):<br /><br />___ Whitney (invented the cotton gin)<br /><br />___ Robinson (first African American Baseball player)<br /><br />___ Mandela (first elected South African President)<br /><br />I'm currently creating a PowerPoint lesson for Monday and Tuesday. It is something I've wanted to do for the last couple of years but just haven't had the time. We are going to talk about influential African American writers and work with some of their texts. I get very excited when I start teaching with Langston Hughes (I just love Simple) and Maya Angelou.<br /><br />Not to mention, they couldn't get these either:<br />___ Einstein<br />___ Lennon<br />___ Carroll.<br /><br />They did, however, know Mark Twain and Charles Dickens *sigh of relief*.<br /><br />...Fiona...Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-39338062547530822442007-02-17T07:51:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:13:47.468-05:00Artsy~FartsyHere are some more cards from this week:<br />(I think you can double click the image to make it larger)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Scarlett's Valentine:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb6vCuPfaI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Bbro9-hNofc/s1600-h/momcard1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb6vCuPfaI/AAAAAAAAAE4/Bbro9-hNofc/s200/momcard1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032485319724727714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb6-SuPfbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/8GgjrKGk9XU/s1600-h/momcard2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb6-SuPfbI/AAAAAAAAAFA/8GgjrKGk9XU/s200/momcard2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032485581717732786" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Linc's Valentine:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb70yuPfdI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NCTRnDa29XI/s1600-h/lincsvdaycard.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb70yuPfdI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NCTRnDa29XI/s200/lincsvdaycard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032486518020603346" border="0" /></a><br />Grandma's Birthday Card:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb7OSuPfcI/AAAAAAAAAFI/5c7kLM-jG40/s1600-h/gmacard1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb7OSuPfcI/AAAAAAAAAFI/5c7kLM-jG40/s200/gmacard1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032485856595639746" border="0" /></a>That is actually some adhesive fabric I found at Big Lots! Is it not awesome!?!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I would like more money. Who wouldn't??? But apparently...<span class="fullpost"> I am such a good tutor that my pupils only need me for several sessions and then stop coming because, "they are just doing so well now." Grrrr.... At Christmas I sold a butt load of cards to people at work and Linc told me I should sell them on ebay. Meh. However, I'm now thinking about Etsy. Here is the other <s>crap</s> stuff I have to offer.<br /><br />I paint paper mache boxes. Here a few that I have around the house:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The flower box<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb86yuPfeI/AAAAAAAAAFY/385WXPjS6G8/s1600-h/flowerbox1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb86yuPfeI/AAAAAAAAAFY/385WXPjS6G8/s200/flowerbox1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032487720611446242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9FyuPffI/AAAAAAAAAFg/56bQpK6PTAo/s1600-h/flowerbox2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9FyuPffI/AAAAAAAAAFg/56bQpK6PTAo/s200/flowerbox2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032487909590007282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The heart box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9SCuPfgI/AAAAAAAAAFo/gNRj6x2zwCQ/s1600-h/heartbox.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9SCuPfgI/AAAAAAAAAFo/gNRj6x2zwCQ/s200/heartbox.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032488120043404802" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The button basket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9xiuPfhI/AAAAAAAAAFw/GYlnlOpNsBA/s1600-h/buttunbox.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9xiuPfhI/AAAAAAAAAFw/GYlnlOpNsBA/s200/buttunbox.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032488661209284114" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The black paint doesn't photograph well.<br />This is a round box painted black with rub-on transfers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9-yuPfiI/AAAAAAAAAF4/oI3XUZ7XJZA/s1600-h/japbox.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb9-yuPfiI/AAAAAAAAAF4/oI3XUZ7XJZA/s200/japbox.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032488888842550818" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I have made a lot of these for my aunts and cousins. They just love them. Some I glue stuff to the lids and/or put ribbons around the necks. Personally, I like the raw look without the fluff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb-YSuPfkI/AAAAAAAAAGI/NoyblK0Vm9w/s1600-h/jars2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb-YSuPfkI/AAAAAAAAAGI/NoyblK0Vm9w/s200/jars2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032489326929215042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb-LSuPfjI/AAAAAAAAAGA/tej47rtjmqI/s1600-h/jars1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xRTIJ1adSCo/Rdb-LSuPfjI/AAAAAAAAAGA/tej47rtjmqI/s200/jars1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5032489103590915634" border="0" /></a><br />What do you think? Etsy worthy or should I not even bother?<br /><br />...Fiona...</span></div></div>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-31628392487991323392007-02-17T07:06:00.000-05:002007-02-17T07:07:18.328-05:00Thanks!For knocking up my stat counter!<br /><br />Of the last 100 hits to my site, 88 have all found me with the google search "does meredith die".<br /><br />heeheheheehehe<br /><br />Keep 'em coming!<br /><br />...Fiona...Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25603024.post-357712044099991762007-02-16T11:58:00.000-05:002007-02-17T07:08:16.171-05:00OMG Grey's Rocks!I am soooo loving Grey's Anatomy.<br /><br />This three story arc that they are currently airing is awesome!!!<br /><br />Last night's ending...Meredith all blue in Derek's arms...Christina feeling all kinds of emotions....McSteamy and McDreamy having a T-Total bonding moment (I think this is the start of their "brothership" returning)...Derek cries...and Denny!!! Squeeeeeee!<br /><br />You'll have to touch me if you want to read more...<span class="fullpost"><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOwKzS6ldrw"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AOwKzS6ldrw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AaENZeg14JY"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AaENZeg14JY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br /><br />What would we do without YouTube???<br /><br />DOES MEREDITH DIE?!?!?!<br /><br />No! Not with a final episode called "Some kind of miracle". This podcast with Executive Producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers discuss "Drowning on Dry Land" and tease next week's episode, "Some Kind of Miracle" (2/22/07). There is a nice discussion about Meredith's past and the building of Meredith and Derek's relationship.<br /><br /><a href="http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/downloads?pn=dl">Grey's Podcast</a><br /><br />And because they have (imo: temporarily) departed from Alex and Izzy...here is my favorite montage:<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MUpLFFmoj44"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MUpLFFmoj44" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></object><br /><br />If you're not going to watch the whole thing...at least hold out until 3:07...haaaawt. And of course, it ends with my FAVORITE scene of GA evah!<br /><br />...Fiona...</span>Fickle Fionanoreply@blogger.com3